So it's almost time! Not just for Shabbos, of course, but for an annual event that I've participated in 32 times in the past 33 years, and 33 times in the past 42 years: The Case Western Reserve University Film Society Science Fiction Film Marathon! This is the 44th Marathon, and there are a few people who have actually been to all of them.

We will sit in Strosacker Auditorium - a lecture hall on the Case campus - for about 30 hours, watching movies, yelling snark, and eating lots and lots of junk.

If you're wondering, I still maintain all of the restrictions of the Sabbath, except for the watching movies part - which is not in the spirit of Shabbos, but doesn't violate any of the 39 categories of prohibited activity. I daven (pray) three times as always (carefully selecting which movies I can miss to do so), and I have three meals with bread over the course of Shabbos. I do everything I can to adhere to Shabbos - I've been doing this for the past 20 years or so. Got it down pretty well.

So I wish you all a Good Shabbos - I'll still be there when Shabbos is over and I'll let you know how it went.

Good Shabbos, everyone!

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Dr. ZRFQ: Good Shabbos and happy movie-thoning!

Zac Alleywalker Lowing: I want to see all the Marvel movies back to back. Would that fill a weekend?

A very quick thought on the Gillette commercial and all the "controversy."

Make no mistake about it: this spot is pandering and opportunistic. It is trying to get people to buy a product, using current events as a pretext. It is emotionally manipulative and pushes buttons in a very broad swath of the viewing populace - for good or ill.

In other words, it is "advertising."

PT Barnum, I believe it was, said that "It doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right." Gillette has created an advertisement that has millions of people discussing it - bringing their name to the very front of mind. The arguing back and forth engendered by the spot is doing exactly what effective advertising is supposed to do: make you think of the name of the product. There is no one who has seen this who doesn't know what product is being discussed. That's rule number 1 of advertising - and not always the case.

So let's be clear about what we're seeing here: a masterful example of the advertising craft.

Having said that, in both message and execution, it is very well done. Aesthetically and philosophically, it really is excellent. And even if you don't like the message (not judging, but HOW COULD YOU NOT LIKE THE MESSAGE), the production values are top notch.

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John Lewis: +Derrick Sanders I'm way to obtuse to be shamed in this manner, you'll have to be much more direct.

Oh, one more picture from All City Candy - for some reason it was delayed in syncing to my PC so I overlooked it

In the decidedly-not-Kosher section.

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Derrick “Quite Clever” Sanders: +Philip Setnik I heard (I've never researched this), but I have heard that Catholic Bishops in the 18th century deemed Hippo to be seafood, and thereby consumable during Lenten fasting, because the gigantic things spend so much time in the water.